Harness cutting-edge technology and the Secureworks Counter Threat Unit™ (CTU™) Research Team to analyze and prioritize global and targeted threats to assist you so you in proactively preventing security attacks.

Cybersecurity Awareness Resources

October was National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Maintaining a secure network is a critical concern for any modern business. Dangerous malware activity, phishing schemes, and other cyber attacks breach valuable company data every day. Since cyber threats constantly evolve, it can be a challenge to simply stay ahead of the latest network security protocol for optimum malware protection, let alone protection against advanced adversaries.

During National Cyber Security Awareness Month, Secureworks will help you understand the best practices to achieve a secure network. Each week, follow the National Cyber Security Awareness themes to learn about the major facets of network security. Explore insights from our expert cybersecurity team, attend informative it security webinars, and dive into the latest cybersecurity reports for valuable risk management tactics. This National Cyber Security Awareness Month, let’s work together to make each month safer than the last.

Blog

Blog

Cybersecurity is our Shared Responsibility

Organizations and individuals alike have become more reliant on our digitally connected world, making it critical that we work together to create a more secure online environment. To help raise cybersecurity awareness, we will be sharing new tips and some of our most popular resources that support online safety at home, in the office, or on-the-go. Together, we can help reinforce strong security hygiene that can help reduce risk and enable smart innovation.

Secureworks is proud to be a #CyberAware champion.

Cybersecurity Awareness Training: Threats and Best Practices

There’s an epidemic of cybersecurity threats; no one’s data is safe. Cybersecurity awareness training is essential knowledge that enterprises can’t afford to overlook.

Typically challenged with a shortage of technologies, clearly defined processes, and supporting personnel and resources, they live in a reactive world handling the latest operational problem, patching the latest vulnerability, or responding to another compromise.

Unfortunately, in this state, the organization is likely to see continued incidents and the associated degradation of its security posture. While most security professionals do not have the power to increase investments and make organizational changes that will help alleviate the aforementioned situation, they can, with the help of their leaders, drive key low-cost to high reward investments that will improve their security posture.

According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, the number of data breaches tracked in the United States reached an all-time high of 1,579 in 2017. This represents a 44.7% increase over the number of breaches reported in 2016. As of July 2, 2018, there have been 668 breaches consisting of 22,408,258 exposed records.

When an incident occurs, the natural reaction is to think about the short-term impact. Most companies focus on assessing the damage; developing a response; and securing funds to pay for fines, legal fees, consulting third parties, and consumer identity protection services. The real challenge is to mitigate risk to the organization from the long-term effects, such as class-action lawsuits, damage to brand reputation, erosion of consumer trust, and lost business opportunities. This paper takes an in-depth look at the true costs - both short and long term - of a data breach, and provides steps and tips that executive teams and security leaders can use to determine and reduce the true cost of a data breach.

Recent high-profile breaches have resulted in executive shakeups and measurable breach costs as high as nine figures after insurance and deductions. However, calculating the intangible long-term costs is difficult due to the many variables that can negatively impact the bottom line. Organizations that have experienced recent data breaches are still in the process of uncovering these costs, such as: business opportunities lost due to the distraction of these crises, erosion of investor and consumer confidence, abnormal churn, and increased acquisition costs just to name a few. Before delving into these costs and how to assess and develop effective strategies, it's important to understand the nature of the threat.

National Cyber Security Awareness Month Themes

Week 1

Make Your Home a Haven for Online Safety

Every day, parents and caregivers teach kids basic safety practices ‒ like looking both ways before crossing the street and holding an adult’s hand in a crowded place. Easy-to-learn life lessons for online safety and privacy begin with parents leading the way. Learning good cybersecurity practices can also help set a strong foundation for a career in the industry. With family members using the internet to engage in social media, adjust the home thermostat or shop for the latest connected toy, it is vital to make certain that the entire household ‒ including children – learn to use the internet safely and responsibly and that networks and mobile devices are secure. Week 1 will underscore basic cybersecurity essentials the entire family can deploy to protect their homes against cyber threats.

Week 2

Millions of Rewarding Jobs: Educating for a Career in Cybersecurity

A key risk to our economy and security continues to be the shortage of cybersecurity professionals to safeguard our ever-expanding cyber ecosystem. Raising the next generation of interested and capable cybersecurity professionals is a starting point to building stronger defenses. There are limitless opportunities to educate students of all ages – from high school into higher education and beyond – on the field of cybersecurity as they consider their options. In addition, veterans and individuals who are looking for a new career or re-entering the workforce, should explore the multitude of well-paying and rewarding jobs available. Week 2 will address ways to motivate parents, teachers and counselors to learn more about the field and how to best inspire students and others to seek highly fulfilling cybersecurity careers.

Week 3

It’s Everyone’s Job to Ensure Online Safety at Work

When you are on the job – whether it’s at a corporate office, local restaurant, healthcare provider, academic institution or government agency ‒ your organization’s online safety and security are a responsibility we all share. And, as the lines between our work and daily lives become increasingly blurred, it is more important than ever to be certain that smart cybersecurity carries over between the two. Week 3 will focus on cybersecurity workforce education, training and awareness while emphasizing risk management, resistance and resilience. NCSA’s CyberSecure My Business™ will shed light on how small and medium-sized businesses can protect themselves, their employees and their customers against the most prevalent threats.

Week 4

Safeguarding the Nation’s Critical Infrastructure

Our day-to-day life depends on the country’s 16 sectors of critical infrastructure, which supply food, water, financial services, public health, communications and power along with other networks and systems. A disruption to this system, which is operated via the internet, can have significant and even catastrophic consequences for our nation. Week 4 will emphasize the importance of securing our critical infrastructure and highlight the roles the public can play in keeping it safe. In addition, it will lead the transition into November’s Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month, which is spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.